Along with other rural pharmacy owners, we employ over 1,000 people in areas that have the highest unemployment rate in Canada.

Starting earlier this year, the Dunderdale government has enacted policies that will carve out tens of millions of dollars from our businesses.

Not only will this result in job losses in areas that can ill-afford to lose them, it has, in my case, forced me to shelve plans for an expansion of my business that would have resulted in more employment.

Yet, this government sees fit to award $3.5 million to a company that will produce a whopping 35 jobs.

To add insult to injury, these jobs will be in St. John's, which has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

This government may talk of supporting rural Newfoundland, but their actions betray them.

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Petertwo

November 07, 2012 - 05:35

David, pharmacists depend on their clients having money, not the government. What subsidies? Rural areas are slowly dying where is a monopoly when there is little business to be had?
Maybe you know something that I do'nt, explain please.

"....government has enacted policies that will carve out tens of millions of dollars from our businesses...." As vague and unsubstantiated as that statement is, this letter certainly does not promote any misguided impression that the filling of medical prescriptions is anything at all like an open, free-market dealing between willing buyers and sellers....so how is it that you are so ignorant of that? And as far as rural Newfoundland "dying" goes, I hardly think that protecting and subsidizing pharmacists more is a sensible , useful or relevant course of action. If there isn't enough business to run a monopoly health care business somewhere, then guess what...?!

a business man

November 06, 2012 - 16:37

I had no idea about this change, but I am certainly happy about this. I have businesses and rental properties in St. John's and this decision gives me 35 more potential customers. Whether or not they actually patronize my establishment(s) is not up to me, but I am happy that there is a chance that I might make more money as a result of this change. If those jobs were in rural NL, I would not see any benefit. SO regardless of the unemployment in rural NL, I fully support this government intitative.

A rural pharmacy is most often a monopoly situation, and therefore a very low-risk license to print money in the uber-profitable, government-funded health care orgy...err sector. Be happy with what you got. Darryl.